Bill > SB5891

This bill aims to preserve the historical records and artifacts from Northern state hospital, a facility that previously housed people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The bill requires the division of archives and records management to collaborate with the University of Washington institute on human development and disability, the department of social and health services, and the department of archaeology and historic preservation to create a comprehensive preservation plan. The plan must identify at-risk records and artifacts (such as medical records, letters, images, films, and other artifacts), assess their condition, outline preservation steps including storage, handling, restoration, cataloguing, and digitization, and provide a timeline and budget. The bill specifically mandates that no records will be destroyed until the preservation plan is completed and funded in fiscal year 2028, with the goal of honoring the memories of those who lived and worked at the hospital. The preservation efforts are intended to ensure long-term access to these historical documents for historical and educational purposes, with indirect costs to the University of Washington limited to 15 percent. The bill is set to expire on June 30, 2028, marking the expected completion of the preservation project.

Government Affairs

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5891&Year=2025&Initiative=false